George Bush and John Kerry don't agree on much, but apparently they would both favor the use of prizes for technological acheivements. The Bush administration likes prizes- witness the effusive praise of science advisor Jack Marburger for the Centennial Challenges program. And now for some newsfrom the Kerry camp, on Kerry's plan for science and technology:

"Prizes have a number of advantages as a tool for stimulating technological innovation compared to traditional grants and contracts. For example, they allow the government to set a goal, while allowing researchers and entrepreneurs to pursue different strategies for reaching that goal. The private sector's X Prize illustrates the power of this approach. This prize has captured the public imagination, and encouraged two-dozen teams of rocket scientists from around the world to develop reusable spaceships. The Kerry plan would provide every science agency with the authority to establish prizes to foster technological advances."